Book Review: “Why I Am Roman Catholic"

“Why I Am Roman Catholic” by Matthew Levering

I went into reading this book thinking only that it would help me better understand the Catholic position on matters of life, faith and doctrine. What I didn’t expect was that my heart would be so stirred for Jesus, and my faith increased. While there were certainly some things that Levering wrote about that I disagreed with, those things took up very little space. For most of the book I felt like I was reading the challenging, encouraging, inspiring, Christ exalting words of another Christian brother, which I was!

In just under two hundred pages Levering takes readers through six unique chapters: 1) Why I Am a Christian, 2) Why I Am a Catholic, 3) What I Have Found Especially Beneficial About Being Catholic, 4) What I Have Found Difficult About Being Catholic, 5) Catholics and Ecumenism, and 6) Catholic Theological Exegesis. The amount that Levering fits into each one of these chapters is impressive. Even more impressive though is his obvious knowledge of Church History, and the number of sources he relies on and incorporates into each chapter. He rarely gets through a paragraph without having cited and/or quoted at least two different historical voices, plus Scripture. This doesn’t take away from his own writing, it enriches it by giving it a firm historical foundation, and by providing an amazing bibliography!

While the whole book really was exceptional, the standout chapters for me were Why I Am a Christian and Why I Am a Catholic. Reading chapter one, Why I Am a Christian, was a needed and uplifting reminder to my own heart as to why I am a Christian. As Levering told his own story of struggle and conversion, and as he basked in things like the glory of the cross of Christ, the goodness of God and the harmony of the Scriptures, I couldn’t help but remember why being a follower of Christ is not even a question for me. As Peter once rhetorically said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6.68). Or as Levering writes himself, “As soon as I believed there was a God, I understood that I could not do anything other than live for him” (Why I Am Roman Catholic, 25).

Reading chapter two, Why I am Catholic, was a similar experience to chapter one but with some more education involved. I came away with a better understanding of some of the points of disagreement between Levering and myself, such as the Catholic view of Mary and certain parts of the Eucharist. And more than that, I came away again spurred on to love Jesus more. Even without agreeing wholeheartedly, I couldn’t help but say ‘Amen’ as Levering expounded on the Lord’s supper and talked about God’s love for and purpose in marriage. Again, it was like reading the wonderful words of a brother in Christ from a neighbouring denomination.

Now, all of that being said, my caution to readers (non Catholic readers that is) as they read this book is that Levering does indeed seem to consider Protestants as a little less or a little lost compared to Catholics. His chapter on ecumenism is very encouraging and welcoming, but there are still statements like, “While Catholicism is the full realization of the church of Christ, other Christian churches - Orthodoxy first and then the Reformation churches - participate in that church in varying degrees” (130). Of course, in Levering’s defence this a great movement forward from other times and voices that would not put Catholicism and Reformation churches in the same sentence. And on top of that, Protestants would probably make similar statements if they were writing “Why I am a Protestant.”

All in all, a great read. I don’t doubt that this will be an important book for Catholics. I think it is just as important of a book for Protestants. It is a well written reminder not only of where Protestant and Catholics disagree but, and more importantly where they are united. In the words of my Catholic brother, “I love Christ’s cross because, like St. Augustine, I know I need it” (29).

Book Recommendations: 4 Books on the Church

There are lots of good books on the structure, purpose and practice of the church. Here are four of my favourites.

1. Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for This Urgent Time by Marva J. Dawn.

This book is getting old, but it has aged well. Dawn’s insights into solving our worship wars, and her sketch of biblical, corporate worship is just as relevant today as it was in 1995. Perhaps the strongest part of Reaching Out is her discussion of music, preaching, Scripture readings, rituals, liturgies, art and other worship practices and her advice for making these practices God glorifying and people edifying.

2. In Good Company: The Church as Polis by Stanley Hauerwas.

A heavier read than Dawn’s book, but no less excellent if one is up for the task. Hauerwas brilliantly and biblically explores the beliefs and practices that are a part of the Church’s identity, and that serve to separate her from the world. A warning to the reader, Hauerwas examines the protestant and the catholic church in his study.

3. A Better Way: Rediscovering the Drama of God-Centered Worship by Michael Horton

Horton never disappoints in his unrelenting concentration on Scripture. In A Better Way Horton makes the biblical case that the Preached Word and the administered sacraments are the means of Grace which God has chosen to use to save the His people. An especially important read for everyone who belongs to the church and to a church. Even if you are not reformed, as Horton is, I am sure you will find his explanation of biblical worship persuasive, inspiring and applicable.

4. Christ, Baptism and The Lord's Supper: Recovering the Sacraments For Evangelical Worship by Leanord J. Vander Zee

The title says it all. Vander Nee takes on baptism and the Lord’s supper, attempting to explain the deeper biblical meaning of both. This book is a gift to the church, since most people in the church, pastors included, seem to misunderstand or at least lack an in-depth understanding of these practices. As a pastor himself, Vander Zee carefully guides pastors and lay people into a fuller and more Christ centred view of worship.

Book Review: “A Theology of Play: Learning to Enjoy Life as God Intended"

“A Theology of Play: Learning to Enjoy Life as God Intended” by Kevin M. Gushiken

As soon as I saw the title, “A Theology of Play,” I was intrigued. I am not the kind of person that struggles with finding time and motivation to play. That part comes fairly naturally to me. But I have wrestled often with wondering whether God even wants me to play and to have fun? Like, is it alright to go skateboard, or should I be reading Scripture in all my free time? More then that, if play is a part of God’s design and intentions for me, then how can I make skateboarding and other activities of play glorifying to God?

Gushiken provides answers to those questions and many more in his book. He addresses the person like me who loves to play but carries some level of guilt about it, as well as the person who doesn’t make time for play but needs to. He examines things like the common barriers to play, the need for spontaneous play, the relationship between suffering and play, finding freedom from guilt and shame in play, and magnifying God’s glory in our play.

Of course, the most important part for me of these aspects of play is not Gushiken’s thoughts on them, but God’s. Does the Bible provide answers to my questions about play? Can a person actually discover a Theology of Play in Scripture without distorting verses to try and justify it?

My impression from page one and on was that Gushiken is a man who is well versed in the Scriptures, who gives great exegetical thought and care to his study, and who, in this book in particular, was/is seeking to know what God’s Word has to say on the subject at hand. This is not to say that you shouldn’t read this book and then like the Bereans, examine the Scriptures to see if these things are so. We should do that with any book we read. But I do think you can read this book with confidence that Gushiken is equipped to and devoted to genuinely and intelligently finding insights into play that are absolutely found in and based on Scripture.

All that being said, if I had any greater hopes for this book, it would be that Gushiken would have provided further insight into his study. Again, he does a good job of showing the biblical basis for each chapter, but I would have loved to see even more! With Theology in the title, I was hoping it would be a little bit more technical than it was. But, in his defence, then the book may have been less accessible to a wide range of readers.

All in all, a great book. It is a strong and biblical argument for play being something designed and ordained by God, for our joy and His glory.

If you struggle with seeing a reason to play, or if you struggle with guilt in your play, this one’s for you!